10 Bad Logo Designs and the Lessons Behind Them

Bad logo designs can harm a brand’s image and confuse its audience. Design mistakes often come from poor color choices, mismatched typography, unclear symbols, or visuals that send the wrong message.

It often reflects a failure in communication between the brand and its audience. This article looks at 10 bad designed logos​, breaking down what went wrong both visually and conceptually to avoid making the same mistakes for designers.

Key takeaway:

• Keep logos simple, clear, and memorable for better recognition.
• Prevent ambiguous or double-meaning imagery, as seen in the Kids Exchange logo.
• Test logos for clarity and appropriateness across all sizes and media.

10 Examples of Bad Logo Designs​

Following bad graphic design logos from various industries offers valuable insights for your own design journey.

1. London 2012 Olympics Logo

According to CF Staff (2012) in the Company Folder website, the official London 2012 logo sparked widespread criticism and controversy due to its overly complex shapes and lack of clarity, making it difficult to read as “2012”. Moreover, its jagged forms and bright colors led to various unintended interpretations and made it fail to capture the spirit of both London and the Olympic Games.

How to Improve:

• Simplify the fragmented shapes
• Refine spacing and alignment 
• Align the visual style more closely with Olympic values.

Also Read: Pictorial Mark Logo: 10 Iconic Brand Inspirations

2. Kids Exchange Logo

The main issue with this logo lies in its ambiguous, double-meaning design. Kids Exchange is a company that buys and sells used children’s clothing, but the logo’s layout suggests something entirely different depending on how it’s read. Due to poor spacing, many viewers misinterpreted the name, leading to confusion.

How to Improve:

• Adjust the spacing to clearly separate the words “Kids” and “Exchange.”
• Use capitalization or color differentiation.

3. Hilton Logo

Hilton is an example of bad logo designs due to its lack of harmony in color combination. The horizontal line separating the gold and silver areas in the logo does not align properly with the text. This small but noticeable flaw makes the design look inconsistent and less polished.

How to Improve:

• Align all design elements properly.
• Refine the color palette by choosing tones that better reflect Hilton’s luxury and sophistication.
• Simplify unnecessary details.

4. NYC Taxi Logo

The logo problem lies in typography that does not align with the brand’s context. The font choice less symbolizes New York’s urban vibe. Furthermore, the placement of the letters “NYC” next to a large circle containing the word “TAXI” also creates visual imbalance and makes the design difficult to read at a glance. 

How to improve: 

• Unify the typography by using a modern sans-serif font that reflects New York’s character.
• Simplify the composition.

Also Read: The Art of Logo Design: Principles Behind Memorable Branding

5. BT Logo Redesign

The BT logo redesign is a clear example of “trend chasing” in design, where brands follow minimalist trends without considering long-term identity or differentiation. BT adopted an overly simple circular logo with basic typography, similar to many tech and telecom rebrands of the time. This makes the logo feel dated rather than timeless. 

How to improve: 

• Add visual elements that represent BT’s innovation and communication focus.
• Use a customized typeface.
• Refine the color palette for a balance of modernity and recognition.

6. Sherwin-Williams Logo

The Sherwin-Williams logo shows a paint can pouring red paint over the Earth with the words “Cover the Earth.” It appeared as if the Earth was being covered or polluted by paint, making the logo feel outdated, insensitive, and reduces positive messages.

How to improve: 

• Ensure the logo aligns with the brand’s current values.
• Control the story of your brand and avoid creating a logo that highlights its weak points.

7. Pathmark Logo

The Pathmark is often seen as one of the bad logo designs because its red and blue colors clash, creating a divided and unbalanced look. Moreover, the uneven letter spacing and lack of visual harmony make it fail to reflect the freshness and trust expected from a supermarket brand.

How to improve:

• Simplify the color scheme.
• Adjust letter spacing and alignment.
• Use modern typography that reflects freshness and reliability.

Also Read: The Importance of Logo: Capturing First Impressions

8. Kraft Foods Logo

The Kraft Foods logo has been criticized for being too bright, colorful, and busy, giving it a circus-like appearance. This overuse of colors makes the design difficult to take seriously. It also fails to reflect the brand’s heritage, quality, or professionalism.

How to improve:

• Simplify the color palette by using only two or three main colors.
• Reduce clutter by removing unnecessary design elements.

9. Kudawara Pharmacy Logo

The Kudawara Pharmacy logo has used two stick figures to form the letter “K,” which made the logo appear unintentionally suggestive. This flaw undermined the brand’s professionalism and credibility in the healthcare industry.

How to Improve:

• Redesign the “K” using abstract or neutral shapes that avoid suggestive forms.
• Maintain clear and readable typography for the pharmacy’s name.
• Ensure the logo conveys professionalism suitable for a healthcare brand.

10. DeviantArt Logo

This brand’s logo has been criticized for its confusing and inconsistent design elements. While the redesign aimed to be modern and edgy, the “D” in the abstract “dA” symbol is difficult to see, causing confusion among users. Additionally, the new logo closely resembles the logo of Russian design studio platzkart.ru, which has sparked controversy and questions about originality. 

How to Improve:

• Redesign the symbol so both the “D” and “A” are clearly legible at all sizes.
• Use consistent angles and proportions.

Also Read: Choosing the Right Logo Font: Expert Tips and Best Practices

7 Quick Tips to Avoid Common Logo Mistakes

• Conduct thorough brand research (audience, competitors)  before designing, and ensure your logo reflects the brand’s values and identity.
• Understand your target audience and their expectations, so your logo communicates effectively and resonates with the people you want to reach.
• Keep the design simple and memorable by focusing on clear shapes and minimal elements to make the logo more recognizable.
• Choose typography that matches your brand identity for the right tone, personality, and professionalism to your audience.
• Test your logo across different sizes, media, and color formats to ensure clarity, legibility, and consistent brand recognition.
• Avoid overusing trends that may quickly look outdated by focusing on timeless, simple, and classic design principles for your logo.
• Ensure colors convey the right emotion and align with brand values by researching color psychology to see what best suits your brand and create a visual identity.

Ready to Create an Impactful Logo?

The 10 examples of bad logo designs emphasize that logo design must adhere to the balance of creativity and simplicity, while ensuring that every element, from color to typography, aligns with the brand’s purpose and audience. 

They also underscored that typography holds a key role in conveying the message and reflecting the brand’s identity. Therefore, Creacy Studio provides professionally crafted fonts and design assets for brands. Explore and get the commercial licensed typefaces to make a visually proper, intact, and impactful logo design for your brand.

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